Must be something in the air in Idaho. Kieth Adams rode for years with just tennis shoes.( Multi national champion from Idaho) Most people like to be able to walk on monday. It`s all about protection. Trouble is it only takes once. ( I could include detalis) I recommend not even starting a bike without proper boots, let alone riding it! I once started my bike within minutes of taking my boots off, I finally quit bleeding thirty days later.

broncobowsher

01-04-2013 10:08 PM

Another victim of starting a bike in regular shoes. I probably should have seen a doc after about the 3rd day of hobbling around. Somehow I managed to self heal. Since I don't learn very fast I did it again and shreaded a shoe. Tear through the sole, and through the side leather. I have no idea how the foot was spared. Boots, always Boots!

You want some mobility and flexibility but not so much that you lack support. I can feel the pegs through the boots, a little. I have more feel then a construction boot has. More flex then a motorcross boot too. There is a reason they make several different trials specific boots. For the price of those work boots, it isn't that much more to just get the right boot. Now if all you had were work boots, they will work. Better then killing your foot in regular shoes. Much like a full face street helmet is a better idea then no helmet. It works, but there are better options.

I have found that trials gear is remarkably comfortable. I can spend a whole day wearing my trials boots and a helmet. When was the last time you had a helmet that you can say you forgot to take off? When you drive a car and get out of the car and that is when you realize that you should remove the helmet that is a good sign that it is comfortable.

jonnyc21

01-05-2013 02:03 AM

True...

Broncobowsher, I am right there with you, been in some gear I didn't care or need to take off and it was the best ever, was always willing to ware it and it saved me more than once. :clap

Ymirtrials

01-05-2013 09:12 AM

I had a set of trials soles put on the bottom of my motorcross boots rode with them for the better part of a year till I could afford proper trials boots. Even for a beginner the proper boots seemed well worth the investment. (Alpinestars will run you a pretty penny in Canada) They are far more comfortable, cooler to wear, have a much better peg feel with them and offer the same protection as the motorcross boots did. I love em!!

DerViking

01-05-2013 09:22 AM

I have ridden in my hiking boots, and they were ok. The steel shank in the sole made peg feel a little tricky. I wear RedWing Leather work boots 6 of 7 days a week, and the soles on them are flexible enough, but the heel step is distracting, and the lack of grip on the soles a drawback, especially in wet conditions. The heel step on motox boots is also problematic, you want to be able to place your foot anywhere on the peg, with consistency.

+1 on the comfort of trials boots, I wear mine for touring, though I am getting away from that, as they won't do much good in a 70mph crash. The flexible and very sticky sole lets you conform your sole to the peg, think of wrapping your foot around it, especially in big ups and other situations where the bike angle does not conform to your body angle. They are also waterproof, very nice in wet sections, especially in the prewalk, probing for holes and such. You try not to dab in trials, but when you do, its nice to stick, and only dab once.

The price (Hardrock sells the Garne for $325 or so? basically at cost) is painful the first time, but I promise you'll feel it was worth it. I sure did, there is something about fine Italian footware.

Gordy

01-05-2013 10:14 AM

I caught my toes between a rock that was jutting out from a ledge and the peg last week right when I was pulling the trigger on an up. Bike is coming up and suddenly stopped by the rock knob that my foot was comin up underneath. Holy shit! Ouch!!!

I thought that I broke it, but only smashed it and have a dark blue toenail and a big toe that is really swollen.

I can't imagine what would have happened without proper boots.

Handy

01-05-2013 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordy
(Post 20402070)

I caught my toes between a rock that was jutting out from a ledge and the peg last week right when I was pulling the trigger on an up. Bike is coming up and suddenly stopped by the rock knob that my foot was comin up underneath. Holy shit! Ouch!!!

I thought that I broke it, but only smashed it and have a dark blue toenail and a big toe that is really swollen.

I can't imagine what would have happened without proper boots.

It doesn't look like trials boots really provide any foot protection though. If anything a good pair of work boots provides more foot protection than a trials boot. So in this case you would have been better off in an MX boot or steel toed workboot.

Gordy

01-05-2013 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handy
(Post 20402108)

It doesn't look like trials boots really provide any foot protection though. If anything a good pair of work boots provides more foot protection than a trials boot. So in this case you would have been better off in an MX boot or steel toed workboot.

A little of that is true. The toe box is nothing special on a trials boot, but I can't ride in MX boots because of the lack of feel and the stiff ankles. I think the trials boots had enough of a thick top and stiff front that it kept the toe from going completey under the front compared to some boots I have seen guys using. I have used Gaerne and now am really liking the Alpinestars. Unfortunately, they both cost and arm and a leg.

lineaway

01-05-2013 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handy
(Post 20402108)

It doesn't look like trials boots really provide any foot protection though. If anything a good pair of work boots provides more foot protection than a trials boot. So in this case you would have been better off in an MX boot or steel toed workboot.

In this case it might be true, but when I put that whole Beta kickstart lever into my leg it would have.Three layers of stitches and a drain. :huh

norwstrider

01-05-2013 11:02 AM

Protection and comfort

If you ride "off the tarmac", then at some point your tires will slide in an unexpected way. When you slap the ground with your foot, and you will, you need ankle support, and a solid sole. I have used a pair of Sidi Discovery boots for about 60,000 miles. They are comfortable and fairly light, they have also held up very well. That peculiar model is no longer available, how ever there are other similar ATV/ Duel Sport boots that are available. I know, I know, they are soooo $$$ expensive! Well compare there expense to having a Doctor pin your ankle back together. $$$$$$$
Happy Riding I'll see you on the trail.

norwstrider

01-05-2013 11:04 AM

Protection and comfort

If you ride "off the tarmac", then at some point your tires will slide in an unexpected way. When you slap the ground with your foot, and you will, you need ankle support, and a solid sole. I have used a pair of Sidi Discovery boots for about 60,000 miles. They are comfortable and fairly light, they have also held up very well. That peculiar model is no longer available, how ever there are other similar ATV/ Duel Sport boots that are available. I know, I know, they are soooo $$$ expensive! Well, compare their expense to having a Doctor pin your ankle back together. $$$$$$$
Happy Riding I'll see you on the trail.

They are not a trials specific boot, but they do advertise that they have a more flexible sole/ankle and better comfort compared to "normal" motocross boots. They also seem to have good protection and are reasonable priced compared to trials boots.:deal

motojunky

01-05-2013 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Handy
(Post 20402108)

It doesn't look like trials boots really provide any foot protection though. If anything a good pair of work boots provides more foot protection than a trials boot. So in this case you would have been better off in an MX boot or steel toed workboot.

You're right that trials boots don't offer the protection of a MX boot. For me, it was about finding the right balance between feel & protection. I have Sidi Crossfire MX boots which offer tons of protection but simply do not offer enough feel to be any good for trials. The Gaerne seems to be the boot of choice for many US riders, but I felt like the Alpinestar offered a little bit more protection. I have been using them for a year or so now and have no complaints.

I wasn't really sold on the need for trials boots early on, but I have learned that the feel is critical. I think good work boots are fine to get you started, but they don't offer as much shin/calf coverage or peg feel. MX boots are also OK to get you started (some of the low-end models are probably better for trials) but again limit feel way too much.